Micrometer



June 8, 1948.

MICROMETER Filed March l1, 1947 Inventar Charley L. Whi taker By WMM @m Patente-d June 8, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MICROMETER Charley L. Whitaker, Madera, Calif.

Application March 11, 1947, Serial No. 733,964

\ 6 Claims. (Cl. 33-164) This invention appertains to novel and useful improvements in instruments, particularly measuring devices.

An object of this invention is to provide improved means for accurately measuring distances. l

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved means for journaling a barrel or outer housing of the micrometer measuring means. Another object of this invention is to provide improved means for taking out end play from the invention, thereby increasing accuracy.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device lof the character described which Iis eX- tremely simple andl relatively inexpensive to manufacture, since various machining operations and various elements arer obviated in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which are necessary in conventional measuring instruments of this nature.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent to those skilled in the art in following the description of the preferred embodiment of the present linventionillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational side View of the preferred form vofthe present invention, parts beingshown in section for clarity;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the invention disclosed in Figure land taken substantially on the line 2--2 thereof and in the direction of .the arrows Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the invention disclosed in Figure 1 and taken substantially on the line 3 3 thereof and in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a selected portion of the present invention showing particularly the barrel construction and indicia registering elements, forming part of the present invention.

Referring now in detail to the illustrated preferred embodiment of the present invention, like reference characters are used throughout to indicate similar elements thereof.

This invention has been devised to provide a device for measuring accurately distances. One of the prime purposes of the present invention is to provide an accurate micrometer which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Provision is made in the arrangement of elements whereby certain conventional micrometer elements are eliminated and certain machining operations are completely obviated thereby lowering the cost of production.

Taking now Figure 1 which is most descriptive, an arcuate frame I0 is provided with an anvil I2 at one end. thereof and a split sleeve I4 at the other end thereof. Aligned apertures I6 are provided in said split sleeve and a selected one of said apertures is provided With a threaded bore. Adjusting means are provided in the said aligned apertures, said adjusting means being preferably a thumb screw I8.

An externally threaded tube 20 is rotatably received on the said sleeve I4, abutting the shoulder 22 provided integral with the sleeve I4. A reduced portion 24 is received on the end of the said sleeve I4 and is externally threaded. VFriction locking means, in the form of a pair of nuts 26, is provided on said reduced portion 24 for the purpose of taking out end play of the said tube 20. It may be readily seen from an inspection of Figure 1 that the said-limiting means 26 provides an effective thrust bearing for the said tube 20.

A barrel or housing 28 is threadedly received on the said tube 20. An arm 30 having an anvil 32 at one end thereof is slidably received in said split sleeve I4. The said anvil 32 `may be suitably secured by any conventional means to said arm 3G, such as by pressing the same thereto. The opposite end of said arm 30 has threads 34 thereon of a predetermined number per inch and are engageable with complemental threads 36 in the end of the said housing 28. Suitablejmicrometer indicia 38 is provided on the same arm 38 and adjacent the terminal portion of the housing 23. The only difference between the indicia borne on the above mentioned element from that of a conventional micrometer is the fact that the Zero point is at the terminal portion of the arm, rising in numerical value toward the intermediate portion thereof. Conven tional micrometers operate so that the indicia is reversed relative to the disclosed markings 38.

Means for fixing the housing 28 relative to the sleeve 20 are provided. The preferable means is a simple set screw 40 provided in a suitable aperture in the said housing 28. This set screw abuts the threaded portion of the sleeve 20, thereby holding the sleeve and housing in fixed relation. This expedient is provided with the obvious purpose of supplying a means for adjusting or setting the micrometer to a substantially exact adjustment.

Oppositely aligned protuberances 42 are provided integral with the arm 30 and are slidably .ceived on' Said slel Due to the extreme mechanical simplicity characterized by this invention, a further description thereof is deemed unnecessary. yHowever, it is apparent to those skilled' inthe ar't that variations including changesas'to sizelancll shape may be made herein without departing,

from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly,V limitation is sought onlyl in accordance With the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the p1'^'es=,ifltinvention, Whatis claimed as novelv and improved is as fol- IOWS': v

1. A micrometer comprising ari aruate frame, an anvil at oneend and a split sleeve at the otherend thereof, a threaded tube rta'tivfely i'eceived on said sleeve, a housing threadedly" vreceived on said tube, means v'fr lcki'g' said heusing to said tube, means on 'said s'leveforlimiting the travel of saidt'ube, arinextei'idiiig through said sleeve, mea n said sleeve'- and arm for guiding said arrii, cooperating nieaiis on said arm and housing for adjustablymovii'ig'said arm relative to said ranvil and indicia on said arm housing. i

nc'romete omirising 'arcuate frame, an` anvil at oneV end 'andv a split sleeve at the other end thereof', a threaded tube' rotatively received on saidfsleev, a'hbusir'ig threadedly received on'said tube, means for locking said' housing to said tiib, meansv on said sleeve for" limite ing the travel of said tube, an arm extending through said sleeve, means in said sleeve and arm for guiding'rs'faid arm, cooperating means G11' r.Said arrn and fadjlstably moving Said arm relative to Said ani/Hand d'Ca on Said arm housing, Said limiting' means c'oinl'irising yfriction securingV inea-ns'- 'eifigaging said tube.

31 A micrometer comprising an arcuate frame, an E'tr'lfvil` at l'ie a lSplit s'lev'at the other" end'theeiga threaded tube rotatively' ref a hdu's'ingV threadedly eceived' 'on said' tube-,ie'asfor locking said housing to said tube, means on said sleeve for limiting the travel of said tube, an arm extending through said sleeve, means in said sleeve and arm for guiding said arm, cooperating means on said arm and housing for adjustably moving said arm relative to said anvil and indicia on said arm housing, said guide means comprising slots in said sleeve and protuberances on said arm slidably receivedin said"-slots.l

4. A micrometer comprising an aruat'e frame, an anvil at one end and a split sleeve at the other end thereof, a threaded tube rotatively received on said sleeve, a housing threadedly re ceived onsaid tube, means for locking said housing to said tube, means on said sleeve for limiting. the travel of said tube, an arm extending through said sleeve, means in said sleeve and arm for'guiding saidV arm, cooperating means on said arm and housing for adjustably moving said arm relative tos-aid anviljandindicia: ori-said arm housing, said fcooperating means comprisingcomplemental threads on said arm and housing.

5. A-rnicrometer comprising an arcuate frame, an anvil at vone end and a split sleevehatzthe other end thereof, a threaded tube rotatively received on said sleeve, a housing threadedly received* on said tuba. means for locking said housing to said tube, means-on saidY slevefior limiting the travel o-f said tube, an arm extending through said sleeve, means onrsaid afin' and housing for adjustablyv moving said aifrelltive to said anvil and' indienen' said" arm housing, said guide means comprising slots Iin said'slve and protuberances on said arm slidablyueceived in Said Slots, said-limiting mals'icldiii'gff'ridtionalli7 bound' (-olla F' d "tuli` 'other e'iil tOf', a threaded' t'iib fttifly'i- Ceived Oli Said Sleeve', a.' hd l, jldedly' "fceived on said tube, means' for lockingsaidhousing to said tupegmeans said sleeve for limiting the travel'v of' said tube', ann estenui'rig through id Sl'v,` 'Sa'l'd'v Se/' ifi'd arm for guiding' savia ann, eocperanngmeans on Said arm and musing for adiustabiy mcving said arm relative to said' 'a'nvil and indicia `"dit s aid arm housing, 'saidfgui'demeas comprising slots in said sleeve and protuberan'ces, on saidann slidably Vreceived in said isi-ots, said cooperating means comprising engaged threads on said'arin and housing. 

